Late Antiquity: 5th century

Map of Roman Empire under Emperors Diocletian and Constantine(284 - 337)

Timeline and Events:

315: Emperor Constantine issues the Edict of Milan324: Emperor Constantine founds Constantinople as new capital of Roman Empire337: Death of Constantine

Missorium (commemorative dish) of Theodosius, 388showing Theodosius holding court. Below: putti (putto) and personification of Earth. Ca 30” diameter

Timeline and Events:

315: Emperor Constantine issues the Edict of Milan324: Emperor Constantine founds Constantinople as new capital of Roman Empire337: Death of Constantine379-395: reign of Emperor Theodosius I391/394: Theodosius bans pagan worship and abolishes the Olympic Games

Missorium (commemorative dish) of Theodosius, 388showing Theodosius holding court. Below: putti (putto) and personification of Earth. Ca. 30” diameter

Main courtyard at the Palace of Emperor Diocletian, Split, ca. 300

Missorium (commemorative dish) of Theodosius, 388showing Theodosius holding court. Below: putti (putto) and personification of Earth. Ca. 30” diameter

Mosaic ceiling in the ambulatory at Mausoleum of Santa Costanza, Rome, 351

Timeline and Events:

315: Emperor Constantine issues the Edict of Milan324: Emperor Constantine founds Constantinople as new capital of Roman Empire337: Death of Constantine379-395: reign of Emperor Theodosius I391/394: Theodosius bans pagan worship and abolishes the Olympic Games395: Death of Theodosius; permanent division of Empire between East and West

Timeline and Events:

315: Emperor Constantine issues the Edict of Milan324: Emperor Constantine founds Constantinople as new capital of Roman Empire337: Death of Constantine379-395: reign of Emperor Theodosius I391/394: Theodosius bans pagan worship and abolishes the Olympic Games395: Death of Theodosius; permanent division of Empire between East and West404: Visigoths invade Italy; Emperor Honorius moves capital to Ravenna410: Sack of Rome by Alaric, King of the Visigoths476: Ravenna falls to Odoacer; End of the Roman Empire (in the West); Odoacer becomes the first Germanic king of Italy493: Odoacer overthrown by Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary the Great), Romebuilt in 432 after the Council of Ephesus (which ruled that Mary was the Theotokos, the Mother of God)

Front of building (shown here) redesigned in 17th century

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary the Great), Romebuilt in 432 after the Council of Ephesus

Decoration on interior of building (shown here) dates to 432

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, 432Apse vault and triumphal arch

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, 432Detail of triumphal arch, with images of the Virgin and Christ enthroned

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary the Great), Romebuilt in 432 after the Council of Ephesus

Decoration on interior of building (shown here) dates to 432

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore Rome, 432Detail of nave mosaic showingThe Parting of Lot and Abraham

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary the Great), RomeThe church is one of four papal basilicas in Rome. Here, the pope presides over

the annual Feast of the Assumption of Mary, celebrated on 15 August each year at the basilica

Timeline and Events:

315: Emperor Constantine issues the Edict of Milan324: Emperor Constantine founds Constantinople as new capital of Roman Empire337: Death of Constantine379-395: reign of Emperor Theodosius I391/394: Theodosius bans pagan worship and abolishes the Olympic Games395: Death of Theodosius; permanent division of Empire between East and West404: Visigoths invade Italy; Emperor Honorius moves capital to Ravenna410: Sack of Rome by Alaric, King of the Visigoths476: Ravenna falls to Odoacer; End of the Roman Empire (in the West); Odoacer becomes the first Germanic king of Italy493: Odoacer overthrown by Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy, ca. 425

Ravenna, Mausoleum ofGalla Placidia, 425

Rome, Mausoleum of S. Costanza, 351

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy, ca. 425

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, detail of ceiling vault mosaic

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia: Martyrium of Saint Lawrence

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, detail of Gospel books in mosaic of Saint Lawrence

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia: Christ the Good Shepherd

Ravenna, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, 425

Ravenna, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, 425Detail of alabaster windows

Timeline and Events:

315: Emperor Constantine issues the Edict of Milan324: Emperor Constantine founds Constantinople as new capital of Roman Empire337: Death of Constantine379-395: reign of Emperor Theodosius I391/394: Theodosius bans pagan worship and abolishes the Olympic Games395: Death of Theodosius; permanent division of Empire between East and West404: Visigoths invade Italy; Emperor Honorius moves capital to Ravenna410: Sack of Rome by Alaric, King of the Visigoths476: Ravenna falls to Odoacer; End of the Roman Empire (in the West); Odoacer becomes the first Germanic king of Italy493: Odoacer overthrown by Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths

Ravenna, church of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, 504

Ravenna, church of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, 504Detail of mosaic showing King Theodoric’s palace

Ravenna, church of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, 504Detail of mosaic showing King Theodoric’s palace

Below left: Missorium of Theodosius, 388

Below right: Palace of Diocletian, ca. 300

Ravenna, church of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, 504Detail of mosaic showing King Theodoric’s palace and later erasure of images of King Theodoric’s court standing in the arcades

Miracle of the loaves and fishes, nave wall of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. Ravenna, ca. 504

Miracle of the loaves and fishes, nave wall of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. Ravenna, ca. 504

Detail of nave mosaic showingThe Parting of Lot and AbrahamBasilica of Santa Maria Maggiore Rome, 432